Dispensing closure



Oct. 25, 1966 'r. J. D. RUSSELL DISPENSING CLOSURE Filed Dec. 15, 1964United States Patent Ofi ice 3,281,025 Patented Oct. 25, 1966 3,281,025DISPENSING CLOSURE T. J. Duke Russell, 609 Las Lamas Ave., PacificPalisades, Calif. Filed Dec. 15, 1964, Ser. No. 418,509 2 Claims. (Cl.222-545) This invention has to do generally with closures andparticularly with a dispensing closure for use on a collapsible tube orother non-rigid container for controlling the dispensing of paste,viscous liquids or the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved closureespecially designed for use in dispensing material of viscous orpaste-like consistency that can be readily operated and which provides aunique sealing etfect when closed.

Another object is to provide a closure which operates to pinch off thematerial being dispensed and which provides a wide sealing closuresurface when closed- A further object is to provide a simple, two-partcap or end housing and closure element construction which can be readilyassembled by initially forcibly engaging the parts after which the partsremain operatively engaged.

Still another object is to provide a dispensing closure cap andconstruction which can be substituted for the original closure cap ofthe container or which can be originally applied to the container as aremovable closure cap, or which can be integrally incorporated into thecontainer itself.

Another object is to provide a construction which lends itself to beingdesigned in a variety of attractive shapes that can readily be wipedclean.

A further object is to provide an integral sealing element in a closuremember which provides an effective seal between the closure member and acontainer upon which it is mounted, thereby eliminating the need for aseparate sealing liner as required in conventional caps.

These and other objects will be apparent from the drawing and thefollowing description. Referring to the drawmg:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a device embodying the invention shown inclosed position;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but shown in open position;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the device in closed position, but on a largerscale;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view on line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the closure element;

FIG. 6 is an inverted plan view of the device;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of a portion of the device on thesame plane as FIG. 4, but on a larger scale;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of an alternate form of the inventionshowing the dispensing closure integral with a collapsible plastic tube;and

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of a modified capsuitable for use on wide-mouthed nonrigid containers.

More particularly describing the invention, in FIGS. 1-7 numeral 11generally designates a cap which may be formed of a suitable non-rigidplastic, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyallmer. The capincludes a generally tubular section 12 which is shown as internallythreaded at 13 so that the cap can be screwed onto the threaded neck 14of a container 15, such as a tube of toothpaste or the like. Beyond thetubular section 12 and extending through the outer end 16 thereof is adispensing opening 18 which is shown as having flat, parallel side walls19 and a flat but somewhat laterally inclined or outwardly flared sidewall 20. The opposite side of the opening is defined by convex wall 21.The shape of walls 20 and 21 is not critical.

Extending across the outer end 16 of the body and longitudinally thereinfor a substantial distance in intersecting relation with the opening 18is a transverse slot 22. This is characterized by parallel side walls 23which are in the same planes, respectively, and form a continuation ofthe side walls 19 of opening 18. The base or inner edge of the slot isdefined by surfaces 24 and 25 between which I provide a recess 26. Thesides of the recess are defined by continuations of the side Walls 23 ofthe slot and by a wall 27 which is semicylindrical, extending somewhatmore than I provide a closure element 30, also made of a suitableplastic which may be the same material as the body. This closure elementis flat-sided having parallel sides 3I which are closely received in theslot in friction engagement therewith. Preferably the turning forcerequired should be of the order of 3-6 in. oz. The closure element isprovided with a mounting section 32 on which it pivots and-this sectionis provided with a semicylindrical wall 33 of a size such that itcomplements and fits within the recess 26 of the body. In the assemblyof the parts the closure element mounting section is forced into therecess 26 of the cap and hence the material of the cap should havesufiicient resiliency for a so-called snap fit of the parts.

Element 30 is provided with a closure face 35 of substantial area whichis adapted to engage and seal against the side wall 20 of the openingthrough the cap. The angle of the face 35 with respect to its positionin relation to the pivotal axis of the element is such that the surfaceengages the wall 20 and is parallel thereto and in full contacttherewith when the closure is moved to closed position, as shown inFIG". 4. Preferably the surface 36 outwardly of but immediately adjacentthe closure surface 35 should form a continuation of .the outer endsurface 37 of the cap so that any excess material can be readily wipedfrom the device. The shape of the remainder of the closure element isnot critical, since it is only necessary that it extend beyond the slot22 sufliciently to be readily engaged by the user. However, the elementhas been shown as having two long converging edges 38 and 39 whichterminate at an outer end surface 40. Also, an edge 41 extends from themounting section 32 to the sealing surface 35.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of one or more sealinglips 45 at the inner end of the tubular section of the cap. This sealingli-p is shown as an annular member which tapers to a featheredge 45' andwhich is preferably disposed somewhat inwardly at the edge so that itwill be engaged and deflected by minimum pressure with the entrance ofthe end portion 14 of a container 15 upon which the cap is mounted.

In the operation of the device it will be apparent that by making theparts fit sufiiciently tightly the closure element will remain closedbut at the same time can readily be operated by a pressure of a fingeron the end of the element. When the paste or other material has beendispensed, the element is pivoted to the closed position, therebynipping off the material and effectively sealing the opening. Any excessmaterial can be readily wiped off the surfaces 36 and 37.

In FIG. 8 I show a closure built into and integral with a collapsibletube 50, the closure in this case including the aforementioned closureelement 30 and a body 51 in place of the aforementioned cap, the bodybeing integral with the container. The body is provided with adispensing opening and slot as in the cap previously described.

In FIG. 9 I show a modification designed for relatively large-mouthednon-rigid containers. In this form of the invention the cap, 55, has alarge internally threaded tubular section 56 and beyond this anextension 57 correspond- 3 ing to the outer end portion of the cappreviously described in which is mounted a closure element 30.

Although I have illustrated and described a preferred form of myinvention, I contemplate that various changes and modifications can bemade therein without departing from the invention, the scope of which isindicated by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A dispensing closure construction for a container, comprising a bodyportion adapted to form an end on a container, said body portion havinga transverse axial slot extending inward from the outer end and one sidethereof, said body portion having an opening extending from its innerend to and merging with said slot, said slot being defined in part byflat parallel side walls and by an end wall within the body portion,said body portion being formed to provide a concave semicylindrical wallextending through somewhat more than 180 located laterally of saidopening, said semicylindrical wall defining a recess facing the outerend of the body portion and open to said slot, and a flat-sided closureelement closely received in said slot and having a pivotal mountingportion complementary to and received in said recess, said closureelement having a first portion extending from its pivotal mountingportion toward said end wall and terminating in a closure face forengagement with said end wall, said closure element having a sec-ndportion extending oppositely to said first portion and so shaped andsized with respect to said body portion as to allow for limited pivotalmovement of the closure element in a direction such that said closureface becomes spaced from said end wall to permit escape of contentsthrough said opening and slot.

2. A dispensing closure for a container, comprising a cap having aninternally threaded cylindrical inner end portion and having an outerend portion unitary therewith, said outer end portion having atransverse axial slot extending inward from the outer end and one sidethereof, said outer end portion having an opening extending from theinterior of said inner end portion to and merging with said slot, saidslot being defined in part by flat parallel side walls and by an endWall within the outer end portion, said outer end portion being formedto provide a concave sem-icylindrical wall extending through somewhatmore than located laterally of said opening, said semicylindrical walldefining a recess facing the outer end of the body portion and open tosaid slot, and a flat-sided closure element closely received in saidslot and having a pivotal mounting portion complementary to and receivedin said recess, said closure element having a first portion extendingfrom its pivotal mounting portion toward said end wall and terminatingin a closure face for engagement with said end wall, said closureelement having a second portion extending oppositely to said firstportion and so shaped and sized with respect to said body portion as toallow for limited pivotal movement of the closure member in a directionsuch that said closure face becomes spaced from said end wall to permitescape of contents through said opening and slot.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,028,843 1/1936Pischke 251-299 X 2,111,186 3/1938 .Ienks 222556 X 2,141,160 12/1938Bloomfield 222556 X 2,310,271 2/ 1943 Ziehmer 222556 X 2,790,583 4/ 1957Kolend-a 222556 X 2,837,252 6/ 1958 Hoynak 222517 X 2,981,447 4/1961Jennings 222542 X 3,111,245 11/1963 Libit et al 222542 X FOREIGN PATENTS515,121 2/1955 Italy.

ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

WALTER SOBIN, Examiner.

1. A DISPENSING CLOSURE CONSTRUCTION FOR A CONTAINER, COMPRISING A BODYPORTION ADAPTED TO FORM AN END ON A CONTAINER, SAID BODY PORTION HAVINGA TRANSVERSE AXIAL SLOT EXTENDING INWARD FROM THE OUTER END AND ONE SIDETHEREOF, SAID BODY PORTION HAVING AN OPENING EXTENDING FROM ITS INNEREND TO AND MERGING WITH SAID SLOT, SAID SLOT BEING DEFINED IN PART BYFLAT PARALLEL SIDE WALLS AND BY AN END WALL WITHIN THE BODY PORTION,SAID BODY PORTION BEING FORMED TO PROVIDE A CONCAVE SEMICYLINDRICAL WALLEXTENDING THROUGH SOME WHAT MORE THAN 180* LOCATED LATERALLY OF SAIDOPENING, SAID SEMICYLINDRICAL WALL DEFINING A RECESS FACING THE OUTEREND OF THE BODY PORTION AND OPEN TO SAID SLOT, AND A FLAT-SIDED CLOSUREELEMENT CLOSELY RECEIVED IN SAID SLOT AND HAVING A PIVOTAL MOUNTINGPORTION COMPLEMENTARY TO AND RECEIVED IN SAID RECESS, SAID CLOSUREELEMENT HAVING A FIRST PORTION EXTENDING FROM ITS PIVOTAL MOUNTINGPORTION TOWARD SAID END WALL AND TERMINATING IN A CLOSURE FACE FORENGAGEMENT WITH SAID END WALL, SAID CLOSURE ELEMENT HAVING A SECONDPORTION EXTENDING OPPOSITELY TO SAID FIRST PORTION AND SO SHAPED ANDSIZED WITH RESPECT TO SAID BODY PORTION AS TO ALLOW FOR LIMITED PIVOTALMOVEMENT OF THE CLOSURE ELEMENT IN A DIRECTION SUCH THAT SAID CLOSUREFACE BECOMES SPACED FROM SAID END WALL TO PERMIT ESCAPE OF CONTENTSTHROUGH SAID OPENING AND SLOT.